Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, November 17 at Prince Albert
November 17, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (10-6-1-1, 22 pts.) at PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS (13-4-3-1, 30 pts.)
Sunday, November 17, 2019 - 5:00 p.m. MT - Art Hauser Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play game three of a season long six-game road trip tonight in Prince Albert against the Raiders. The Hitmen are 1-1 on the swing following last night's 4-1 victory in Saskatoon. Mark Kastelic netted a pair of goals to lead the Calgary attack with Josh Prokop and Hunter Campbell adding singles. The Hitmen, who led 2-1 after the opening period and 4-1 through 40 minutes, turned in a strong defensive performance needing just 18 saves from goaltender Jack McNaughton to pick up the win while recording 28 shots themselves. In an oddity, dating back to last season, the road team has now won the last seven meetings between the Hitmen and Blades.
BROADCAST INFORMATION Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
________________________________
STREAKS
- Jonas Peterek (2g, 2a) is on a four-game point streak.
- Mark Kastelic (4g) has scored in each of his last three games.
- Riley Stotts (3a), Luke Prokop (2a) and Hunter Campbell (1g, 1a) all have points in back-to-back games.
NOTEWORTHY VS. PRINCE ALBERT: Tonight is the second of four regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Raiders. Calgary grabbed the opener 11 days ago at the 'Dome by a score of 4-2. Orca Wiesblatt (2g) and Luke Prokop (2a) tallied two points each while goaltender Brayden Peters posted a .929 save percentage. Calgary is 2-2-2-0 in their last six visits to the Art Hauser Centre. Their next meeting is on Friday, Feb. 2 back in Alberta.
2019-20 SERIES RECAP Nov. 6/19 at CGY: CGY 4 PA 2...Orca Wiesblatt scored twice for Calgary.
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 32 PA 28 Power Plays: CGY 0-1 (0%) PA 1-3 (33.3%)
FAST FACTS: Calgary is tied with Moose Jaw and Regina for the second fewest road games played at seven. Medicine Hat and Brandon lead the WHL with 13...The 19 shots allowed by the Hitmen last night were the third fewest they have surrendered in a game this season. On Sept. 28 in Red Deer and again on Oct. 18 at home against Moose Jaw they allowed just 16.
GAME DATA: This is an Eastern Conference matchup; this season the Hitmen have a record of 9-5-0-1 against Eastern Conference foes and a record of 5-2-0-0 against the East Division.
BROTHER BATTLE: Today's game features a pair of sibling rivalries; a head-to-head meeting of Orca and Ozzy Wiesblatt and Blake and Nolan Allan Orca, with the Hitmen has played 79 career regular season games in the WHL while Ozzy has appeared in 86. Blake has played in 82 games while Nolan, a rookie with the Raiders, has skated in 22.
DOWN TO THE WIRE: Seven of Calgary's last 10 games have all been within a goal in the final 90 seconds.
CALL UP: On Thursday, the Hitmen recalled 16-year-old forward Zac Funk from the Okanagan Rockets of the BCMML. Funk, who has played four games with Calgary this season, has 10 points (7g, 3a) in 10 games with the Rockets. He was taken by the Hitmen in the second round of the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. Last season Funk was named a BC Major Midget League All-Star recording 58 points (34g, 24a) in 38 games with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds.
HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (3-0-1-0), October (5-3-0-0), November (2-3-0-1).
HITMEN PLEDGE: 'The Hitmen Pledge powered by ENMAX' is here. As part of the 25th anniversary season fans and members of the community are asked to take the pledge and donate 25 volunteer hours to a charitable cause. One lucky winner will receive $25,000 to gift to a registered Southern Alberta charity of their choice. Full details can be found at https://hitmenhockey.com/pledge.
SHOT CLOCK: The Hitmen have outshot their opponent in 11 of their last 12 games.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 4-2-1-0 on the road this season, going 3-1 in their last four games away from the 'Dome. Prince Albert is 7-1-2-0 at home. Their lone regulation loss came in their last home game on Nov. 9 when they dropped a 3-2 decision to Red Deer.
ONE YEAR IMPROVEMENT: Calgary is six points ahead of their start through 18 games last season when they owned a record of 7-9-2-0.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: James Malm (upper body, week-to-week), Riley Fiddler-Schultz (lower body, week-to-week), Carson Focht (lower body, day-to-day), Tye Carriere (lower body, two-three weeks), Cael Zimmerman (lower body, indefinite).
TEDDY BEAR TICKETS: Due to overwhelming demand, press-level seating for the Dec. 1 ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss is now open. Game time is 4:00 p.m. against the Red Deer Rebels. General admission tickets in the third level are available for only $9.99 for kids 12 and under and $14.99 for adults (plus applicable fees and taxes). They can be purchased at Ticketmaster, the Scotiabank Saddledome box office or by phone at 1-855-985-5000.
HITMEN ALUMNUS: Matt Mackenzie, who played parts of four seasons with the Hitmen from 2007-11, is playing pro hockey in Germany. The 28-year-old defenceman has 25 points (6g, 19a) in 18 games with EC Bad Toelz. Mackenzie recorded 83 points (13g, 70a) in 192 games while with Calgary. He was also a member of the 2010 WHL Champion Hitmen.
PROSPECT PROFILE: Tyson Galloway, Calgary's second round pick, 25th overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft is in the BCHL with the Merritt Centennials. In 12 games the 16-year-old defenceman has three points (1g, 2a). Galloway played with the Thompson Blazers of the BC Major Midget League last season notching 18 points (18a) in 37 games. He also appeared in three games with the Hitmen as an affiliate player.
HITMEN IN THE COMMUNITY: Last Sunday, Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Luke Prokop collected donations to The Veterans Food Bank of Calgary outside the Calgary Co-op in Signal Hill. On Remembrance Day Monday, Carson Focht, Layne Toder and Jett Woo organized a Hockey Gives Blood blood drive at Canadian Blood Services. On Tuesday night Hunter Campbell and Riley Fiddler-Schultz volunteered at the Alberta Children's Hospital as Bingo callers while Layne Toder and Dakota Krebs attended a HEROS Hockey practice. On Wednesday evening Luke Prokop and Jackson van de Leest both did a surprise practice visit with Hockey Calgary skating at Max Bell Arena with the Blackfoot Novice 2 Gold and Knights Novice 2 White.
UPCOMING GAMES All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Wed., Nov. 20 at REG 6:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Fri., Nov. 22 at BDN 6:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Nov. 23 at MJ 6:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Fri., Nov. 29 vs. REG 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Nov. 30 at EDM 2:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include: - Christmas Miracles for SHINE on Fri. Nov. 29 vs. REG - ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss on Sun. Dec. 1 vs. RD
- Carols for Christmas on Fri. Dec. 6 vs. EDM - Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Dec. 8 vs. EVT - Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Dec. 15 vs. LET - Soccer Day on Mon. Dec. 30 vs. EDM
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH - Mark Kastelic passed the 100 goal total last night in Saskatoon and now has 101. Kastelic is also 14th on the clubs all-time points list with 184, nine points back of Kenton Smith who holds 13th place.
- Last night against the Blades, Jack McNaughton moved past Aaron MacDonald and into 13th spot on the clubs all-time saves list with 1,370. He is now 126 saves behind Gerry Festa for 12th place.
- Egor Zamula is two games short of 150.
- Jett Woo is four games shy of 200 and needs five assists for 100.
Western Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2019
- Watts, Wiesblatt Each Strike Twice In Overtime Win - Prince Albert Raiders
- Giants Fall to Hurricanes Sunday Night at Home - Vancouver Giants
- Schaufler's First Goal Secures Thrilling Finish, Comeback Point for Oil Kings - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Chiefs End Successful Road Trip with 2-0 Loss in Everett - Spokane Chiefs
- Raiders Edge Hitmen in OT - Calgary Hitmen
- Evanoff with 45 Saves in Sunday Loss in Saskatoon - Moose Jaw Warriors
- ICE Look to Make It Two in a Row - Winnipeg Ice
- Game Preview: Blades Seek Win in Final Home Game of November - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, November 17 at Prince Albert - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Hub: November 17 - Portland Winterhawks
- Warriors Fall in Swift Current - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Tips Stunned by Winnipeg Comeback - Everett Silvertips
- ICE Storm Back to Beat the Silvertips - Winnipeg Ice
- Scoring Woes Haunt Cougars - Prince George Cougars
- Rebels Build Four-Goal Lead, Then Hang on for Win over Wheat Kings - Red Deer Rebels
- Rockets launch into win column - Kelowna Rockets
- T-Birds Mount Offensive to Defeat Portland in Shootout - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Tigers Takedown Oil Kings in Homecoming Game - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Late Goal from Beckman Caps Saturday Night Thriller in Kennewick - Spokane Chiefs
- Blades Handed Reality-Check by Hitmen - Saskatoon Blades
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
